TOWARDS THE DATE OF THE EARLIEST BUILDING OF JAKISMANI MONASTERY IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA

Abstract

The Georgian provinces of Samtskhe and Javakheti are famous for their Medieval architectural monuments. Javakheti architectural monuments are well studied; that of Samtskhe – less. Jakismani monastery in Samtskhe, consisting of many buildings of the different periods, is among the latter. Plus, we have in fact nothing about it in historical records.Taking into consideration the latest observation of monastery and archaeological data discovered, we focussed to date obviously the earliest building of this complex, small halfruined church situated towards the North from the main church. Special architectural details show the 9th c. as date of its construction. The wall of this very church later has been included into the system of main church, built in the 10th c. Indeed, the demands of great feudal family of Jakeli, having residence in neighbourhood, were more than this small church. So, they ordered the new one to be built using old church as part of this new construction.